Spinning toy

ABSTRACT

A spinning toy of the diabolo type is provided with a central spindle having threads at both ends to which a pair of flat circular discs may be threadably mounted; one disc may be removed and a pointed foot substituted therefor. The provision of the alternate forms permits a learner to progress from a balanced structure to an unbalanced one.

United States Patent 91 Jolliffe [451 Apr. 24, 1973 SPINNING TOY [76] Inventor: J. Paul Jolliffe, R.R. No. 2, Stevensville, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: May 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 254,370

[52] US. Cl ..46/60, 46/61 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 27/12 [58] Field of Search ..46/60, 62, 63

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ l 963 Wright ..46/60 5/ l 967 Denman ..46/60 3,624,958 l2/l97l Salayka ..46/6l Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerRobert F. Cutting Attorney-Neill M. S. Johnston [57] ABSTRACT A spinning toy of the diabolo type is provided with a central spindle having threads at both ends to which a pair of flat circular discs may be threadably mounted; one disc may be removed and a pointed foot substituted therefor. The provision of the alternate forms permits a learner to progress from a balanced structure to an unbalanced one.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG. 2 FIG 1 Patenied April 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SPINNING TOY This invention relates to spinning toys and more particularly to such toys as are known as diabolos.

It would appear from the prior art that the term diabolo refers both to a top having a pair of opposed cones, or discs and to a structure having a disc-shaped head portion with a pointed foot secured to one side of the head. In both structures the spinning of the top is accomplished by the rapid movement of a string about the structure while suspended in the air. With the former structure, the achievement of the spinning movement is relatively easy due to its balanced form, but the maneuvers of the toy are limited. With the latter structure it is more difficult. The forms of the head and foot are difficult to balance and the operation more complex, but the tricks of which the toy and operator are capable are considerably more varied.

With the first type of toy the motions are limited both by the string and to the string. With the second, the movements of the string are almost infinite and the other maneuvers may be accomplished on the ground.

The spinning motion of a balanced diabolo may be achieved by a rolling action on the string but only limited speed is attainable and the spinning of an unbalanced diabolo is not possible in this way.

However, if the balancing point is a rounded channel the string may be crossed above the structure and spinning motion is achieved by a gripping action on both balanced and unbalanced structures with virtually no limitation in attainable speed.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention which will permit one to learn to operate both forms of diabolo toy referred to above whilst facilitating the learning of the operation of the more difficult second form described.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a diabolo toy which includes means for providing a whistling or like sound when the toy is rotated.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a diabolo toy which is both easy to operate and economical to manufacture.

To accomplish these various objects there is provided in accordance with the present invention, a spinning toy comprising in combination:

a spindle having first and second threaded ends and a central waisted portion of reduced diameter;

a foot portion having a first pointed end and second end remote from said first end and having a threaded opening therein engageable with a chosen one of said spindle ends;

and a pair of head portions, each said head portion having a circular disc-like form with a central opening threadably engageable with a chosen one of said spindle ends.

These objects and features will be more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein specific structures are shown and described and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partly in section, of one embodiment of a toy in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form ofa diabolo structure in accordance with the present invention and the cord for rotating the same;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 assembled to form an alternate form of toy;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 in assembled form;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of part of a further embodiment of the invention showing an alternative form of head or disc structure and;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternate disc or head structure for use in a toy in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, there is illustrated a diabolo toy in accordance with the invention which comprises a spindle 23, two head portions 11 and 12, and a foot 13.

Spindle 23 has two ends 14 and 15 which are of substantially equal length and each is threaded as shown.

The central portion of spindle 23 is waisted. The diameter of the spindle gradually reduces from the terminal threaded portions towards the center and a minimum to provide a continuously curved channel for engaging a spinning string. This form permits crossing of the spinning string and the spinning motion of the balanced and unbalanced structures is achieved by frictional engagement with the string so that high speeds may be obtained.

The head portions 11 and 12 in this embodiment, each are made from a flat disc 16 with a central hole 17 mounted and secured upon a plate 18, which has circular cavities, such as 19, provided on the opposed surface to disc 16. These cavities extend through the periphery of the plate by slots, such as 20, of reduced width. A central threaded hole is also provided in plate 18 so that when plate 18 and the disc 16 are secured together, they form a disc-like structure which, when rotated, causes a whistling sound by the air passing in and out of the cavities. Any number of cavities may be provided.

The foot 13 has a circular cross-section which swells and then reduces in width from a wide end to a point. The wide end is provided with a central threaded hole, not shown. The outside circumference at this wide end is substantially the same as the outside circumference of spindle 23 at its greatest circumference.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 an alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in various alternate assemblies. The elements of this embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I, however, the head portions are dimensioned to have a depth of substantially one-half the length of the respective threaded portions.

In the structure of FIG. 4 head portions 11 and 12 are mounted on spindle 23 by simply screwing them on the respective threaded portions as shown.

In the structure illustrated in FIG. 5 both head portions ill and 12 are secured on one end of the spindle 23 and the foot 13 is screwed onto the other free end of the spindle.

It will, of course, be understood that the head portions 11 and 12 of the embodiment shown in FIG. I, may, although in FIG. 2 only shown to be secured together in the same fashion as that shown in FIG. 5, be secured to the spindle 23 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 4. v

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the discs or head portions 11 and 112 are of different forms and they may be substituted for the head portions previously described. The head portions 11 and 12 of FIG. 6 may be made from two or four pieces depending on economy. In the structure shown four pieces are employed, a pair of outer flat plates 24 and 25 and a pair of inner members, 26 and 27, having a cruciform shape are provided. In the preferred structure plates 24 and 25 are secured to the outer surfaces of their corresponding members 26 and 27, so that their central threaded holes are aligned. The cross-form of the inner members permits the two members to matingly engage so that they may fit substantially into the same overall volume of that of one of them. The provision of the cavities such as 19 and their peripheral slots permit the generation of a hum or whistle.

To operate the toy a string is passed around the spindle 23 and crossed above as shown in FIG. 2 and the toy rotated by alternately moving the rods up and down until a sufficient speed is obtained. Very high speeds may be obtained in this manner. As previously mentioned, however, it is difficult to initiate and maintain the movement with this structure. If the operator has difficulty the foot 13 may be unscrewed and the second head portion 12 is secured in its place. This balanced structure is easier to operate and again by operating the string by the alternate up and down motion, the structure may be caused to revolve. The operator may start with the head portions 12 resting on a suitable surface and then raise the toy from the ground as the toy starts to spin. The string is crossed over so that it engages substantially the entire periphery of the spindle, and due to the continuous curved nature of the spindle surface the string is free to move thereover.

If the string is not crossed the balanced structure may be caused to spin, but it is not possible to spin the unbalanced structure in this manner.

When the operator has acquired the basic technique necessary to generate speed on the top, the foot 13 may be substituted for one of the head portions 1 l or 12 and the operator may acquire the skill of making the top perform its tricks on the string or in free motion. The top may be made to fly free in the air and be recaught in play on the string, or to spin free on the point of foot 13 on any suitable surface.

While the present invention has been described with reference to several specific embodiments, it will be apparent that other modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A spinning toy comprising in combination:

a spindle having first and second threaded ends and a central waisted portion of reduced diameter; a foot portion having a first pointed end and second end remote from said first end and having a greater than one-half the length of said threaded end of said spindle.

4. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said head portion has at least one central cavity therein communicating with the air through at least one peripheral opening and said disc.

5. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said head portion has at least one central cavity therein communicating with the air through at least on peripheral opening and said disc.

6. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discs each includes a flat outer plate; an inner portion secured to said plate, said plate and said inner portion each having aligned threaded holes, said inner portion further having a plurality of spaced apart radially extending arms each defining a circular chamber and a slot of reduced width opening to the exterior, said discs being matingly engageable to form a single disc.

7. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discs each comprise a substantially flat circular plate with a central hub, on one side thereof, and a central threaded opening through said hub and said plate. 

1. A spinning toy comprising in combination: a spindle having first and second threaded ends and a central waisted portion of reduced diameter; a foot portion having a first pointed end and second end remote from said first end and having a threaded opening therein engageable with a chosen one of said spindle ends; and a pair of head portions, each said head portion having a circular disc-like form with a central opening threadably engageable with a chosen one of said spindle ends.
 2. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said threaded ends of said spindle are substantially of equal length.
 3. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said individual head portions have a depth substantially no greater than one-half the length of said threaded end of said spindle.
 4. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 2, wherein said headportion has at least one central cavity therein communicating with the air through at least one peripheral opening and said disc.
 5. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 3, wherein said head portion has at least one central cavity therein communicating with the air through at least one peripheral opening and said disc.
 6. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discs each includes a flat outer plate; an inner portion secured to said plate, said plate and said inner portion each having aligned threaded holes, said inner portion further having a plurality of spaced apart radially extending arms each defining a circular chamber and a slot of reduced width opening to the exterior, said discs being matingly engageable to form a single disc.
 7. A spinning toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discs each comprise a substantially flat circular plate with a central hub, on one side thereof, and a central threaded opening through said hub and said plate. 